An old head on young shoulders takes festival in new direction

It has been a whirlwind few days for Fergus Linehan, who was announced yesterday as the new Sydney Festival director.

Mr Linehan, the artistic director of the Dublin Theatre Festival, beat a strong field of applicants from Australia and overseas for the post. He is the first foreigner to take artistic control of the annual event.

"It's a dream job, for sure," said Mr Linehan, who arrived from Dublin on Thursday night for yesterday's announcement by festival chairwoman Lucy Turnbull.

"It's a remarkable opportunity and I am genuinely overwhelmed to be given the chance to take responsibility for the event. It's a considerable challenge, but one which I relish."

Mr Linehan, 34, who is Irish, succeeds Brett Sheehy to direct three festivals from 2006.

He will settle in Sydney later this year and "make a priority" of getting to know Australia's artists and companies.

"That will be the steepest learning curve of all, but my passion for the theatre and the work of artists is sure to make it an exhilarating time," he said.

Ms Turnbull said Mr Linehan's youth and depth of experience - "a rare combination" - made him the clear winner for the job.

"I'm sure that he will deliver an arts program of the highest quality with vitality and hallmark appeal across all ages and interests," she said.

Mr Linehan has helped make the Dublin Theatre Festival an acclaimed and popular event, improving its profile and appeal among young audiences, in ways not dissimilar to Mr Sheehy.

A founding member of the Dublin Fringe Festival, Sydney's director-designate is steeped in the world of showbusiness.

"I grew up in the theatre, my mother is an actress and my father is a writer and arts editor," he said.

"I've been a stage manager and a producer, worked as a bad actor and an even worse director." His brother, is a concert pianist.

Mr Linehan has promised to leave the festival in stronger artistic and financial shape. "Apart from the challenge of striking a balance between international and national work, a crucial part of my job is to throw down the gauntlet to local artists and to get meaningful engagement across all art forms," he said.

Reminded of his fellow Irishman Sean Doran's first Perth Festival as director - an ambitious program that plunged the event into the red - Mr Linehan says soberly: "I don't want to run up a deficit but there will be surprises and risk-taking, of that you can be assured."